Garden Park in Crestview dedicated 31 years after its creation

Monday

CRESTVIEW — It took 31 years, but the triangular park at the south foot of Main Street has at last been dedicated to garden club members who created it and those who maintain it.

CRESTVIEW — It took 31 years, but the triangular park at the south foot of Main Street has at last been dedicated to garden club members who created it and those who maintain it.

Garden Park — created in 1982 by the now disbanded Crestview Garden Club — was dedicated the morning of April 25 by city officials and Dogwood Garden Club members who continue the park founders' efforts.

Event organizer Thea Duhaime presented the park's new red cedar sign, crafted by woodworker Bill Walton, a 1999 Crestview High School graduate, as a gift to the city and a way "to give back to the community," he said.

The club recognized retired forester John McMahon, founder of the city's McMahon Environmental Center, as a Viva Florida 500 "Noteworthy Person” and for "encouraging people to recognize the value of our environment," Dogwood president Sarah Petty said.

"Even here in this beautiful place, we see the contrast with nature and the risk of pollution," McMahon said, indicating passing S.R. 85 traffic.

The Dogwood Garden Club will maintain Garden Park in conjunction with the city Public Works Department. It plans to work with city staffers on a master plan for the park.

"Our hope is that residents and visitors to our city will discover the park as a place to have their lunch, a cup of coffee or just sit and watch the day for awhile," Duhaime said.